FURTHER RESULTS OF SILK PRINTING TEST

Clear Matte Ink Aid

This is the sample from the second row from the left which is the Clear Matte Ink Aid.  The results have had no discernible change in hand, but the top and bottom are considerably more transparent than the middle.  Charmeuse was less transparent from the beginning so no reason to have it be more so because I printed on it!

SEMI-GLOSS INK AID

These seem self-evident don't they?  No change in hand, transparency dependent on the print itself with darker areas  losing transparency accordingly.  You be the judge!

GOLDEN DIGITAL GROUNDS

The Charmeuse continues to have the most distinct printing with great detail.  I wonder what I would do with it?  Thread Painting/collage/ who knows!

I have a new machine so I will be using the clear organza to sandwich some Arbutus leaves;-))) 

This should be very fun.  I am very glad I did this test as it got my focus again for my Fall studio time!

MY MOST CURRENT WORK

This is my 4th piece in my Bark Series #2 that is part of the Fibre Art Network's www.fibreartnetwork.com show entitled 'FROM AWAY".  It has been shown at CQA in Halifax in May and will be touring for the next two years.  It is on our website www.fibreartnetwork.com. Although I haven't seen it "live" yet I hear it was very well received at our National show.

I use the Tyvek layer for the top layer, carving it with wood carving tools and using heat tools on it along with the Lutradur layers underneath.  I machine-sewed buttons on the lower layers as an experiment to separate the layers further.  Threadpainting was on the lower Green Bark layer.  The layers were all hand sewn together with additional beads to connect the layers on the top.  Because I don't like the white edges that seem to inevitably come when I burn the Tyvek I used a black fabric pen on every edge.  It helped me not to have it yelling at me visually! I used to think I wasn't a detail person, hmmmmm.  I even enjoy hand work.  

FIRST RESULTS OF SILK TEST PRINTING

WHITE MATTE  CLEAR MATTE SEMI-GLOSS MATTE DIGITAL GROUNDS
                [THESE 3 VERTICAL LEFT  ROWS ARE INK AID]                     [GOLDEN ON RIGHT]

 This is the first row of my Silk Test [from the left hand side above]

WHITE MATTE INK AID


My biggest disappointment was that none of the silk really took well to the kind of carving and burning I do with my various wood burning and heat tool.  I wanted it to act like the Tyvek but it didn't, instead it followed grain lines when it burned and simply looked burnt.  Not exactly what I was looking for.  

I have the heaviest silk(Charmeuse) in the centre with the lightest(Organza) on the bottom and Habotaii the lighter at the top. All started off a light cream to lessen the variables.  I put the Charmeuse in the middle as it is the heaviest weighted silk and I was expecting darker more intense colours which would be a good comparison for the lighter weight Habotai and the very light,translucent Organza. The results indeed showed the Charmeuse printed silk as quite dark and highly defined images but I was surprised at the clarity and dark values in the Habotaii as well!  The Organza was definitely lighter with less of the dark values, no surprise really.  The hand of all changed dramatically.  Much stiffer and more dense which has some value as well! The darker the print the less transparency which was really brought home to me! 

BTW!!! I have just discovered the latest Photoshop Elements 11 which has light pages rather than the darker ones so I think I'm in Photoshop heaven at the moment.

Back to the test--Kathyanne White's mini workshops-"Digital Printing Silk Surfaces" & "Designing Intriguing Surfaces" were particularly helpful although I still needed to do it myself as I am so tactile & visual! Kathyanne has really got some great videos and pdf's with a tremendous amount of information.

SILK PRINTING 12" X 19"--EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES USED

ARBUTUS BARK SAMPLE TO PRINT FOR SILK TEST

WORKTABLE FOR PREPARING CARRIER SHEETS WITH SILK ATTACHED

EPSON 1900 READY TO PRINT THE SILK SAMPLES 

PRINTED ONE AND NEXT ONE JUST FEEDING ITSELF INTO PRINTER

SILK PRINTING TEST

SILK HABOTAI; ORGANZA; CHARMEUSE GROUPED INTO 4 ROWS FOR INK AID (3) AND DIGITAL GROUNDS(1) TREATMENT

I have been seeking to add silk to my Arbutus(Madrona) series as a top layer to replace the Tyvek layer.  Tyvek has such good definition while taking well to  my burning and carving manipulation.However, I would like to  explore the different silks which  will take on  whole different qualities that I haven't even thought of yet. So I can't wait to start using the silks I have printed!  

The silks I have used are from Maiwa (online from Vancouver,B.C.)--3 different weights:-Habotaii; Organza; Charmeuse.  Organza is the most transparent while the Charmeuse proved to be the least transparent but the easiest to treat! 

Ink Aid was used in three of the four treatments I applied (to one side only):-

White Matte; Clear Matte; Clear Semi-Gloss. 

Golden Clear Digital grounds were used for the 4th treatment. 

  

I have results that I will post on another blog so stay tuned!  

PACIFIC MADRONA/ARBUTUS STUDY

I just couldn't resist posting this today as I have a little time.  This is a time study of my Madrona/Arbutus trees that are performing so beautifully.  The plan is to take pictures of the same part of several trees about 1-2 weeks apart. This is one tree whose bark is just spectacular imo.  What do you think? I am also gathering the peeled bark from the ground with the intention of doing more dyeing with some  it and also by putting some gel medium on some beautiful pieces for some sort of mixed media piece. Playing around with Elements I hope to extract this tree from it's background ...that's one plan anyway!

Studio picture

 After returning from our SAQA conference in Denver, I came home to our very sick doggie "Traveller" who sadly passed away 5 days later.  So I haven't really felt much like writing or being in the studio for that matter and we still really really miss him. Of course those who don't have animals think I'm nutz.  Some days I think they are probably right!  Well back to my real reason for posting.  An overview picture of my studio. TADA!

MY STUDIO LOOKING SOUTH WITH BACK TO DYEING ROOM.

 I tried to download a video of my studio yesterday with little success so I am posting a picture  instead!  While  labeling it which may be stating the obvious it will give you some reference when I next post.  The view of the trees has changed as we removed most of the Douglas Fir to save our beloved ARBUTUS.  I  have more light than EVER! Will post other pictures but this seem like a good start for now! 

NEW SERIES STARTED

I am still at our SAQA CONFERENCE in Denver CO. where I will be joining other SAQA members for a tour of the DAM(Denver Art Museum)prior to catching a plane home tonight. The conference was excellent, organizationally as well  pertinent content. I couldn't have asked for more.  (Not having a burgeoning cold would've been nice though).

My photograph of a piece of bark is printed on Canvas with a minimum of 6 layers for each piece of bark. This includes painted burlap;scrim; lutradur;cheesecloth;tyvek separated and sewn together with glass beads  to increase the layer dimensions .  The different layers  were heat-gunned and/or carved separately or together with a wood burning tool with cute little nibs.  Attaching the bark units  with polished hemp using a tapestry needle  needed needle-nosed pliers to pull through the layers.  
#2 is almost finished with just printed  layers of Lutradur and Tyvek. Rather different look actually, will post ASAP!

ARBUTUS #8---readied for FAN Canadian Content Show in Queensland New Zealand

I feel very fortunate to have interrupted finishing this piece by visiting Australia and New Zealand for the latter half of January.  We got home Jan 31st which gave me over a week to finish this piece along with the paperwork which I view as a necessary but challenging evil for an artist. My technical expertise  is just developing but certainly not quite there.  It is wonderful to have such helpful Show coordinators in our FAN group who helped with me managing the details of the entry (Judy Weiss) this time.  Please take time to visit our website:     www.fibreartnetwork.com.

I am currently in a coffee shop in Florence,OR madly typing this up as we continue our southern journey. My plan is to do handwork of 10"x10" pieces for 2 shows that occur in August and November(they have to be different).  Hopefully 3 for each show.  I am dependent on the "skins'" I have created prior to leaving so it will be spontaneous and intuitive work (which my work usually is anyway).

ARBUTUS #8--READY FOR NEW ZEALAND SHOW--26" x 18"

ARBUTUS #8 DETAILS 

Soooo here's my NZ piece.  www.fibreartnetwork.com

PROJECT #4 SAMPLE--6 layers--same value resulted

Top layers are sewn by hand then applied to grey bkground fabric by machine. LOVE THE TEXTURE! layers indistinguishable can be used for some applications.  Interesting that the values seem so similar ...used mostly the same elements 9 bark pictures so shouldn't be surprised.   This could be cut into strips as it visually is one value;-) Takes time but worth it!
LOVE THAT CHEESECLOTH...scariest to print so far;-) Needs LOTS OF TAPE on carrier sheet!!!

1. commercial grey background layers 
2. solid canvas background and one burlap strip )right hand)+ 
3. screen 
1. burlap (Ink aid white matte) ripped edges with seam ripper to lose harsh edges
2. lite lutradur--burnt with heat gun
4. strips of cheesecloth 

New unusual fabrics + INK AID+ Printer+ Blocking small Pieces

I have been rather busy with decisions on what fabric to print on and experimenting with the two different Ink Aids-- White Matte + Clear Gloss.  There are some interesting results with using the same fabric.  I have used one of the bark pictures from my last blog on shinny polyester fabric in golds, greens, and yellows with the shine really non-existent!

white matte Ink Aid--excellent colour

Clear gloss INk aid on beautiful shinny GREEN polyester

COMPOSITE OF RESULTS OF INK AID WHITE MATTE/ GLOSS ON LUTRADOR;SHINEY POLYESTER;CHEESECLOTH;

Hmmm but some very very clear pictures onto the fabric.  I have cut up the bark and am applying it to a arbutus tree background.  When this project is finished I will post. Hopefully sooner than later!

ARBUTUS Tree & Bark Pictures

NEWER BARK SECOND LAYER WITH NEW GREEN
BARK UNDERNEATH

OLDER BARK TOP LAYER

ARBUTUS MENZIESII ON NOTCH HILL  MY INSPIRATION FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS!

These are some pictures of the Arbutus Tree and its bark that live right outside my studio..  No wonder I am inspired by them!  I believe them to be the most beautiful tree in the world!  REALLY! I hope that I can honour them with my work.
I have my finished work in this series at www.paulettecornish.blogspot.com
#2 on that blog has been sold.  That's very exciting and validating for me!

Project #3 AC

BEGINNING STRIPS FOR PROJECT 3 

MY 3RD SAMPLE WITH RUST BACKGROUND ARBUTUS BARK THAT IS BEGINNING TO PEEL...NEEDS LOTS LOTS OF WORK TO REPLICATE THE FEEL OF THE REAL THING!

I have worked to develop more bark types for my upcoming ABSTRACT arbutus diptych that is on the horizon. Albeit DISTANT horizon for the moment but I do have the picture I'll be working from.  Lots of different types of bark in this potential picture so I have to get to know bark better...much better.  I have been working on their textural feeling but I don't have it yet...my apologies to those realistic people that are looking for a REAL ARBUTUS! I learned lots today..mainly I have a lot more work to do.  sigh

Two Blogs

I have created a second blog with my current unfinished work and project goals for SAQA Visioning project.  I guess I plan to put finished work on here and WIP's on the paulettepricecornish blogspot .  Hope this isn't tooooo confusing!

Well basically for me also.  I will show my studio picture on both.....and trusting that I can finish work to sell soon!

My Studio

Just wanted to post my studio picture taken november 20.  I'm so lucky to have this marvellous view of my favorite trees and the focus of my series that I really really want finished sooooooon!

Finished SAMPLE #1-- BARK + TEXTURE

PRINTED LUTRADOR;BURLAP;CHEESCLOTH; CUT -UP

PROJECT#1--BARK AND TEXTURE

This is the product of quite a bit of research on Kathyanne White's websites/blogs.  In order to try these ideas out I needed to order materials ,specifically the INk aid pre-treatment that is sponge-painted onto a variety of different fabrics.  so I have been testing one set with a greyed bark to see the hand plus intensity of colour, ease of use, visual impact.  so this is a visual posting of the result of my first tests of; Ink aid Clear Gloss + Ink Aid white Matte.  I printed on:
#1 Lutrador;
#2 cheesecloth
#3 garden burlap 

on the Epson R1900.  That proved to be  an epic journey in itself! The results are pictured.  5 of the 6 turned into interesting fabric with the sixth...garden burlap not feeding through the printer to print on the clear gel.  sooooooo not sure the reason for that but it wore me out trying to get it to feed with iddferent settings NONE of which worked but the other burlap worked beautifully with the white matte INK Aid....who knows???? So pictures are included with the darkest and most intense with the white Matte INK AID....but of course that isn't always what one wants is it???

I have included my Project #1 utilizing the results as there was enough after making my sample book from the six of Project #1.  (Impressive hmmm???) It won't last but it's a good start!!!

Visioning from SAQA

My goals for this years visioning at SAQA university are rather scattered.  After downloading quite a few of Kathyanne White's info I can see my Arbutus series see my blog link.www.paulettecornish.blogspot.com  My goal for this week at my retreat is synthesizing down to :

1. Finishing my "Together" piece for our FAN project 
2. Experimentally printing with my EpsonR1900 for layering textures from my Elements 8 for my arbutus bark work. 

**** I will post some process related stuff just to spur on my memory as I start to work because I forget what I have done;-) and I don't always remember to make notes.  I diverge a lot when I do make my notes as they tend to be just a starting point and something to check if I diverge too much! Perhaps this will do it!